AllYouCanTech

Latest Enhancements and Changes in Apple’s Photos Application for iOS 16

Apple’s Photos app underwent a significant redesign last year, and iOS 26 introduces several fresh changes. Here’s everything that’s new for the Photos app in iOS 26.

## New Liquid Glass Design

One of the most substantial modifications affecting all Apple applications this year is iOS 26’s new ‘Liquid Glass’ aesthetic. Specifically in the Photos app, you will notice Liquid Glass UI features throughout—from buttons and navigation tabs to popup menus and more. While your photos and videos remain the primary visual focus of the app, Photos’ integration of Liquid Glass isn’t as pronounced as in some other apps—but it’s still a delightful update that’s hard to overlook.

## Tab Bar Navigation Returns

When Apple revamped the Photos app in iOS 18, the most substantial change involved navigation. The traditional tab bar was replaced with a single-screen UI. Following a wave of discontent from users, Apple has reinstated tab bar navigation in Photos with iOS 26. It’s not a complete return to the exact configuration prior to iOS 18, but Photos navigation is now notably closer to the old setup with three tabs:

– Library
– Collections
– Search

The Library functions similarly to earlier iterations of the app. Meanwhile, Collections gathers all the new, customizable sections introduced in iOS 18 into a dedicated screen.

## Spatialize Photos

Last year, Apple Vision Pro acquired a new capability to “spatialize” photos. Now, iOS 26 has brought a similar feature to iPhone users through the Photos app. While viewing a photo, a new button in the top-right corner allows you to see a ‘Spatial Scene’ version of the image. Essentially, it adds depth to your photo enabling you to pan around and explore different angles. It’s a fun addition within the Photos app, but the feature shines especially as Spatial Scenes for your Lock Screen wallpaper.

## New Customization Settings

Within the newly updated Collections tab, Apple is providing users with even greater customization possibilities than before. You could already fully customize and reorder the sections that appear in your Photos app, but iOS 26 introduces:

1. New view preferences for your collections
2. The ability to collapse and expand individual collections

For the first option, tapping the three dots at the top of the Collections tab presents three viewing choices. You can standardize all collections to a uniform size, either all small or all large, or select the default view which highlights certain collections more than others. The option to temporarily collapse certain sections should enhance navigation in your Collections view as well.

## Event Details Screen

Photos now features a new capability designed to provide you with details about significant events you attended. When browsing moments from events like concerts or sports games, swiping up will reveal a link with additional details about the event. For sports events, information such as venue, final score, and upcoming related events will be displayed. For concerts, you’ll gain access to top songs from the artist’s tour and more. It remains uncertain how ‘major’ an event must be to qualify for this exclusive details screen, but it’s hoped that Apple makes the feature inclusive of both large and small events.

## Photos in iOS 26: Wrap-Up

This year’s update for Photos illustrates Apple’s intent to advance the app while also using iOS 26 to reintroduce some of the familiarity that users lost in iOS 18. It may not be as packed with features as last year, but following the upheaval of that major redesign, a year of consistency could be exactly what Photos users are looking for.

Apple COO Reveals Accelerated Schedule for AI Server Manufacturing in Houston

**Apple’s Houston Facility: A Significant Advancement in American-Made AI Servers**

Apple Inc. has recently garnered attention with its bold initiatives to enhance domestic manufacturing, especially in the field of artificial intelligence. The company’s Chief Operating Officer, Sabih Khan, affirmed that Apple is ahead of plan in dispatching U.S.-made AI servers from its new plant in Houston, Texas. This progress forms part of a larger $600 billion investment strategy aimed at improving American infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities.

### Investment in Domestic Infrastructure

Earlier this year, Apple declared a substantial pledge to invest in domestic infrastructure, which entails the creation of a server manufacturing facility in Houston. The 250,000-square-foot plant is intended to manufacture cutting-edge servers that will support Apple’s AI projects, including its Private Cloud Compute services. Construction on the factory commenced earlier this year, and by July, the facility had successfully created its first test unit.

### Accelerated Production Timeline

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Khan emphasized the swift advancements made at the Houston facility. The choice to ship servers sooner than originally planned was prompted by external factors, including encouragement from former President Donald Trump to hasten such initiatives. Khan conveyed excitement about the early shipments, stating, “We’re thrilled to be shipping American-made advanced servers from our Houston facility. Our teams have done an incredible job accelerating work to get the new Houston factory up and running ahead of schedule.”

### Impact on American Jobs

The White House has reacted favorably to Apple’s swift actions, with officials noting that the President values projects completed ahead of timetable. This initiative is viewed as a significant milestone toward restoring American jobs, aligning with broader economic objectives of revitalizing domestic manufacturing.

### Conclusion

Apple’s proactive stance in creating a manufacturing footprint in the U.S. mirrors a rising trend among tech companies to invest in local production capabilities. The Houston facility not only signifies a strategic decision for Apple in the competitive AI arena but also represents a commitment to American job creation and economic development. As the facility prepares for mass production slated for 2026, the early shipment of AI servers signifies a promising beginning to this ambitious endeavor.

Siri Upgrade, Fresh Foldable iPhone and iPad, and A20 Processor: Recent Speculations Investigated

### Apple Product Speculations: Siri Enhancements, Foldable Gadgets, and A20 Processors

This week’s installment of Rumor Replay at 9to5Mac explores the latest speculations regarding Apple’s forthcoming products, emphasizing crucial information about Siri’s AI improvements, the expected foldable iPad and iPhone variants, and the new A20 processor series. Here’s a summary of the most captivating rumors.

#### Internal Evaluation of Siri’s AI Improvements

Recent insights from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg suggest that internal evaluators of iOS 26.4 are voicing apprehensions about the efficiency of Siri’s expected AI enhancements. While detailed information is limited, the feedback implies that if Siri does not fulfill performance benchmarks, it could result in significant alterations within Apple’s AI divisions.

**Key Point:** Despite the dissatisfaction related to Siri’s delays, there is a measured optimism concerning its forthcoming features. Apple is reportedly testing its own substantial language models (LLMs) in conjunction with third-party options, potentially improving Siri’s functionalities.

#### Foldable iPad: A High-End Gadget Approaching

Mark Gurman has also disclosed that Apple is developing an 18-inch foldable iPad, though its progress is slower than anticipated. The device, which is expected to retail at approximately $3,000, is now projected to debut in 2029 instead of 2028. In contrast to the foldable iPhone, this iPad will lack an external display but will bear resemblance to a MacBook when closed.

**Key Point:** The extended timeline and steep price may provoke doubt regarding the practical viability of this device. However, the hybrid design concept—melding characteristics of both a MacBook and an iPad—could transform user interaction based on the operating system employed.

#### Foldable iPhone: Smaller Screens and Possible Delays

Analysts at Mizuho Securities have reported that the forthcoming foldable iPhone might showcase slightly reduced displays than initially expected, featuring an outer display of 5.38 inches and an inner display of 7.58 inches. There are also worries concerning potential delays in the device’s release due to ongoing design tweaks.

**Key Point:** While the adjusted display sizes could be a concern for some users, the possibility of limited availability at launch might instill a sense of exclusivity that benefits Apple long-term, particularly for a product anticipated to exceed $2,000 in retail price.

#### A20 Processor: Increasing Costs and New Series

Emerging reports detail the A20 processor, which will drive the iPhone 18 next year. The new 2-nanometer manufacturing process is expected to significantly raise production expenses for TSMC, anticipating a possible 50% price increase for Apple. Furthermore, there will likely be two iterations of the A20 processor, with the A20 Pro earmarked for the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable versions.

**Key Point:** The progress in chip technology may lead to considerable performance enhancements, but the question persists as to whether Apple will transfer these expenditures to consumers. It’s foreseen that the baseline model of the iPhone 18 will experience a price rise, whereas other variants may remain unchanged.

### Conclusion

This week’s speculations underscore a critical juncture for Apple as it addresses the hurdles of AI advancements, groundbreaking device designs, and escalating production expenses. As these developments progress, the tech community remains keen to observe how Apple will navigate and adapt to these challenges in the years ahead. What are your opinions on these speculations?

Apple Among Major Contributors for Trump’s White House Restoration Initiative

**Demolition at the White House: The East Wing Makeover and Corporate Sponsorships**

This week, notable demolition work has been apparent at the White House, especially impacting the East Wing. The pictures of the current demolition have sparked curiosity, as they suggest that President Trump’s concept for a privately financed ballroom entails significant renovations rather than just a mere addition to the current structure.

The envisioned ballroom, which is planned to span 90,000 square feet, has attracted considerable financial support from various prominent businesses. Reports from the White House mention companies such as Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Google, Coinbase, Comcast, and Meta as some of the distinguished benefactors backing this ambitious initiative.

President Trump has made it clear that the financing for the ballroom will be sourced entirely from private entities, claiming that taxpayers will not shoulder any expenses related to the construction. Initially, the administration projected the project’s cost at $200 million; however, Trump has recently suggested that the overall expenditure might increase to around $300 million.

The roster of donors features a wide range of corporations, foundations, and private individuals. Apple CEO Tim Cook has a track record of managing political donations with tact. He has previously endorsed Republican figures like Paul Ryan and organized fundraising events for Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton. At the onset of Trump’s second term, Cook gained attention by contributing $1 million to the inauguration fund, seen as a goodwill gesture towards the new administration that could favor Apple.

As Trump’s second term continues, Apple has maintained its involvement with the administration in significant ways. The company recently gifted Trump a distinctive present: a statue crafted from 24k gold and glass. Furthermore, Apple has been instrumental in financing the White House’s vanity project, further cementing its association with the administration’s undertakings.

The ongoing changes at the White House, particularly the East Wing transformation, underscore the confluence of politics, corporate leverage, and public opinion. As the ballroom project progresses, the ramifications of such corporate donations to presidential projects are likely to remain a focal point of debate and examination.

Instagram Stories Launches AI-Enhanced Editing with the New Restyle Feature

With the revamped restyle tool, users can now request Meta AI to perform sophisticated edits on images and videos prior to sharing them as Instagram Stories. Here’s how it operates.

## Restyle Provides Video Presets and Prompt-Based Options for Images

A few months prior, Instagram’s lead Adam Mosseri shared a video showcasing the restyle tool, which enables users to apply several AI-driven presets to their videos before they publish.

As of today, Meta has unveiled the restyle tool, confirming its functionality for both images and videos. From the company’s press announcement:

“Whether you wish to simply eliminate an unwanted detail from your story, incorporate a fun element, alter the atmosphere with a whimsical effect, or initiate a trend with your friends using Add Yours stickers, you can now do it. Restyle your photos and videos in Instagram Stories to make edits, large or small, using Meta AI.”

To initiate this, after choosing the photo or video you wish to share as an Instagram Story, tap the newly introduced Restyle button located at the top right corner of the interface.

If you are sharing a video, you will have the option to choose from various preset styles and effects before publishing. When sharing a photo, you can also include a prompt with instructions to add, remove, or adjust elements, alongside the preset effects.

Instagram also provides a brief guide for crafting “effective prompts”:

We aim to grant you the creative liberty to modify your photos precisely as you desire. The more detailed and specific your prompt, the better Meta AI can align with your vision. Some aspects to think about:

– Subject (like “add a crown on top of the girl’s head”)
– Lighting and mood (like “add dramatic lighting”, “have light from just a single paparazzi flash”)
– Composition requirements (like “in the bottom left corner”, “in the background”)
– Style (like “make photorealistic”, “film noir style”)
– Location (“in outer space”, “in Paris”)

Lastly, Instagram mentions that if you add a sticker before sharing, your friends will be able to tap it to apply the exact same edits to their own photos and videos.

The company has not disclosed specifics about the rollout, but updates related to AI often require time to become available to users in markets where Meta AI operates.